WHAT IS BABY SLEEP TRAINING?

 

A few years back when I was doing my MBA, in Chicago. On the first day of class, our professors would make us go around the classroom introducing ourselves. Telling everyone who we were and what we did for a living.  When it was my turn, I got up and said, “My name is Nkanyezi, I’m South African and I’m an infant sleep trainer. Training babies to sleep through the night.” That got people fascinated. So much that entire class, professor included spent the next 10-15 minutes bombarding me with questions trying to understand what exactly I did and how I did it…

Everyone’s reaction really took me by surprise, let alone a flood of questions that followed.  I got the, are you serious? That’s a job? People do that? What the hell is sleep training? Can you really make babies sleep all night? Is there a magic formula? Some parents in the class would drop the. “I wish I knew about you when I had my son or daughter line.” Some parents would start telling me about their baby sleep issues hoping I provide a solution for them.

The fact that I spoke with an accent (my beautiful South African accent of course ahahah). It made me seem like I was some type of Mary Poppins.

SO, WHAT IS BABY SLEEP TRAINING?

Baby sleep training is a technique where one uses natural organic methods that helps babies to sleep through the night.

The most important thing when it comes to sleep training is that:

• The right technique has to be used
• At the right time
• And it has to be the right one
• For that specific issue, the baby is struggling with.

Unfortunately, I have seen many baby sleep issues not get resolved because this was not followed the right way. As a result, the changes that were implemented would not last, thus the baby sleep issue wasn’t resolved. Or worst the baby’s sleep condition will be worse than you started. Which is not good for any parent.

This is why it is of vital importance to work with someone that knows what they are doing. Especially because when it comes to babies a lot of growth, physical and mental development takes place when they are asleep. So it’s very important they get as much sleep as they need, which is a lot. Besides, more good sleep your baby gets, the happier he is.

What we must bear in mind though is that every Baby Sleep Trainer has a unique way of doing things. Even though that may be the case the rules and the foundation laid in the sleep training process is the same.  The most important thing here is that your baby is safe at all times and is not pushed to do things he is not fully developed and ready to do. As it will cause your child to be overwhelmed, restless and unhappy. And how would you know? Your baby will be the crying day and night and nothing will seem to console him.

Which brings me back to the point for my next post…. How to know if sleep training is done right? Next week I will go in depth on this topic as in my years of doing this I have come across a lot of parents who have been taken advantage of.  Sleep trainers claiming this was a very long process which it isn’t if done right! They play on parent’s vulnerabilities and desperation, prolonging the process much longer than it’s supposed to be…

One mom told me their former sleep trainer took one whole year to sleep train her twin babies… ONE WHOLE YEAR!!! I almost fell to the floor. I mean how could someone take advantage of people like that… I’m telling you this now. No, and I repeat no baby sleep training should ever take that long, ever.  If someone tells you so I suggest you RUN!!! Run away as fast as you can ahahhah.

Well, guys, I will see you again in my next post. So do stay tuned for my next week’s post, it’s going to be good.

Take care.

XOXO